Valdivian Rainforest Research Articles

The fruit of competition: seed dispersal by Magellanic Woodpeckers in the threatened Valdivian Rainforest.

The fruit of competition: seed dispersal by Magellanic Woodpeckers in the threatened Valdivian Rainforest.

Diversity of Phytophthora species in Valdivian rainforests and association with severe dieback symptoms

AbstractThe Valdivian rainforest, one of the global hotspots of biodiversity, is a temperate rainforest originating as a Tertiary relic from the supercontinent Gondwana. In November 2014, a survey of Phytophthora diversity was performed in 13 natural forest stands and 20 forest streams and rivers in two protected areas near Valdivia and in a temperate montane forest in the Concepción area. One planted stand each of the introduced tree species Castanea sativa and Fagus sylvatica were also included. Using baiting assays, eight described species and four previously unknown taxa of Phytophthora were isolated from 86% of the 50 rhizosphere soil samples from seven of the eight tree species sampled in 12 forest stands, and from 20 streams: P. chlamydospora, P. cinnamomi, P. kernoviae, P. lacustris, P. plurivora, P. pseudosyringae, P. ×cambivora, P. ×stagnum, P. valdiviana nom. prov. from Clade 2b, P. madida nom. prov. from Clade 8a, and P. chilensis nom. prov. and P. pseudokernoviae nom. prov. The latter two species are the closest relatives of P. kernoviae from Clade 10. Phytophthora pseudokernoviae nom. prov. was also isolated from necrotic leaves of Drimys winteri. From the Valdivia river, a swarm of three Clade 6 hybrids was recovered. Each hybrid isolate resulted from multiple reticulation events with P. thermophila as maternal and both P. amnicola and P. chlamydospora as paternal parents. In addition, three previously unknown and recently described Nothophytophthora species, N. caduca, N. chlamydospora and N. valdiviana, were isolated from several forest streams. Phytophthora cinnamomi, the most common and widespread species in soils of native forests, was associated with severe dieback of Valdivian rainforest trees, in particular D. winteri, Luma apiculata, Nothofagus dombeyi and the endangered Saxegothaea conspicua. A first pathogenicity test demonstrated high aggressiveness of P. cinnamomi to several native tree species, including N. dombeyi, Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii and Gevuina avellana.

Short-term effects of single-tree selection cutting on stand structure and tree species composition in Valdivian rainforests of Chile

BackgroundThe Valdivian temperate rainforest, one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots, is under a continued process of degradation through mismanagement. An approach to reverse this situation might be the development of uneven-aged silviculture, combining biodiversity conservation and timber production.MethodsWe examined the short-term effects of single-tree selection cutting on stand structure and tree species (richness, diversity and composition) in the Llancahue Experimental Forest in south-central Chile to quantify changes in comparison with old-growth rainforests of the evergreen forest type. We compared plots with high and low residual basal areas (60 and 40 m2 ha−1) and a control old-growth forest.ResultsBoth cutting regimes achieved a balanced structure with reverse-J diameter distribution, continuous forest cover and sufficient small-sized trees. Compared to the old-growth forest, there were no significant changes in tree species richness and diversity. The only shortcomings detected were significant reductions in diameter and height complexity as assessed by the Gini coefficient, Shannon H′ and standard deviation, with a significantly lower number of large-sized trees (dbh 50 cm+, height 23 m+), especially in the low residual basal area regime.ConclusionsWe suggest the intentional retention of a certain number of large-sized and emergent trees as strategy for biodiversity conservation. If adjusted accordingly, single-tree selection is a promising approach to retain many old-growth attributes of the Valdivian rainforest in managed stands while providing timber for landowners.

Does silvoagropecuary landscape fragmentation affect the genetic diversity of the sigmodontine rodent Oligoryzomys longicaudatus?

BackgroundFragmentation of native forests is a highly visible result of human land-use throughout the world. In this study, we evaluated the effects of landscape fragmentation and matrix features on the genetic diversity and structure of Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, the natural reservoir of Hantavirus in southern South America. We focused our work in the Valdivian Rainforest where human activities have produced strong change of natural habitats, with an important number of human cases of Hantavirus.MethodsWe sampled specimens of O. longicaudatus from five native forest patches surrounded by silvoagropecuary matrix from Panguipulli, Los Rios Region, Chile. Using the hypervariable domain I (mtDNA), we characterized the genetic diversity and evaluated the effect of fragmentation and landscape matrix on the genetic structure of O. longicaudatus. For the latter, we used three approaches: (i) Isolation by Distance (IBD) as null model, (ii) Least-cost Path (LCP) where genetic distances between patch pairs increase with cost-weighted distances, and (iii) Isolation by Resistance (IBR) where the resistance distance is the average number of steps that is needed to commute between the patches during a random walk.ResultsWe found low values of nucleotide diversity (π) for the five patches surveyed, ranging from 0.012 to 0.015, revealing that the 73 sampled specimens of this study belong to two populations but with low values of genetic distance (γST) ranging from 0.022 to 0.099. Likewise, we found that there are no significant associations between genetic distance and geographic distance for IBD and IBR. However, we found for the LCP approach, a significant positive relationship (r = 0.737, p = 0.05), with shortest least-cost paths traced through native forest and arborescent shrublands.DiscussionIn this work we found that, at this reduced geographical scale, Oligoryzomys longicaudatus shows genetic signs of fragmentation. In addition, we found that connectivity between full growth native forest remnants is mediated by the presence of dense shrublands and native forest corridors. In this sense, our results are important because they show how native forest patches and associated routes act as source of vector species in silvoagropecuary landscape, increasing the infection risk on human population. This study is the first approach to understand the epidemiological spatial context of silvoagropecuary risk of Hantavirus emergence. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of landscape fragmentation in order to generate new predictive models based on vector intrinsic attributes and landscape features.

Differentiating Structural and Compositional Attributes across Successional Stages in Chilean Temperate Rainforests

The landscape in the lowlands of south-central Chile is dominated by agricultural lands and forestry plantations of exotic species. Natural forests are restricted to successional forests, while old-growth forests are nearly absent. The lack of old-growth forests may deprive society from some ecosystem services. Both successional and old forests differ in their ecological functions and in the ecosystem services they can provide. To promote old-growth characteristics in successional forests, it becomes necessary to know which compositional and structural attributes differentiate forests along succession. We aim at identifying the differential attributes among successional and old-growth forests in the lowlands in the northern portion of the Valdivian Rainforests. We analyzed 19 variables in seven different forests and found statistically significant differences in 13 of them. A subset of these variables illustrated major patterns that differentiate successional stages, of which a few could be more easily controlled through management. The latter include lowering tree densities (from >3000 to <1500 trees per hectare), increasing volume of large trees, especially of shade-tolerant species, and structural heterogeneity (a Gini coefficient >0.7 represents older forests). While successional forest show a rapid recovery, forest managers would need to focus in controlling these attributes to increase their old-growth characteristics.

Nothophytophthora gen. nov., a new sister genus of Phytophthora from natural and semi-natural ecosystems.

During various surveys of Phytophthora diversity in Europe, Chile and Vietnam slow growing oomycete isolates were obtained from rhizosphere soil samples and small streams in natural and planted forest stands. Phylogenetic analyses of sequences from the nuclear ITS, LSU, β-tubulin and HSP90 loci and the mitochondrial cox1 and NADH1 genes revealed they belong to six new species of a new genus, officially described here as Nothophytophthora gen. nov., which clustered as sister group to Phytophthora. Nothophytophthora species share numerous morphological characters with Phytophthora: persistent (all Nothophytophthora spp.) and caducous (N. caduca, N. chlamydospora, N. valdiviana, N. vietnamensis) sporangia with variable shapes, internal differentiation of zoospores and internal, nested and extended (N. caduca, N. chlamydospora) and external (all Nothophytophthora spp.) sporangial proliferation; smooth-walled oogonia with amphigynous (N. amphigynosa) and paragynous (N. amphigynosa, N. intricata, N. vietnamensis) attachment of the antheridia; chlamydospores (N. chlamydospora) and hyphal swellings. Main differing features of the new genus are the presence of a conspicuous, opaque plug inside the sporangiophore close to the base of most mature sporangia in all known Nothophytophthora species and intraspecific co-occurrence of caducity and non-papillate sporangia with internal nested and extended proliferation in several Nothophytophthora species. Comparisons of morphological structures of both genera allow hypotheses about the morphology and ecology of their common ancestor which are discussed. Production of caducous sporangia by N. caduca, N. chlamydospora and N. valdiviana from Valdivian rainforests and N. vietnamensis from a mountain forest in Vietnam suggests a partially aerial lifestyle as adaptation to these humid habitats. Presence of tree dieback in all forests from which Nothophytophthora spp. were recovered and partial sporangial caducity of several Nothophytophthora species indicate a pathogenic rather than a saprophytic lifestyle. Isolation tests from symptomatic plant tissues in these forests and pathogenicity tests are urgently required to clarify the lifestyle of the six Nothophytophthora species.

Crecimiento anual de cuatro especies arbóreas con yemas desnudas nativas de los bosques templados húmedos de Patagonia.

Las especies vegetales que habitan en regiones con bajo nivel de estacionalidad en el clima suelen presentar rasgos morfo-arquitecturales que ocurren con menor frecuencia en especiesde regiones con clima estacional. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el crecimiento primario en vivero de cuatro especies leñosas típicas de los bosques templados húmedos de Patagonia, conocidoscomo selva valdiviana, donde el grado de estacionalidad es menos marcado que en otros bosques patagónicos. Las especies estudiadas, Aextoxicon punctatum, Luma apiculata, Myrceugenia exsucca ySophora microphylla, comparten con muchas especies tropicales la posesión de yemas desnudas. Se evaluaron, durante un año calendario, la fenología, el crecimiento y la ramificación del eje principal de plantas marcadas. El crecimiento primario en estas especies fue marcadamente estacional, como en se ha registrado en especies arbóreas con yemas escamosas con las que coexisten. Sin embargo, se detectaron notables diferencias intra- e inter-específicas en el inicio y la finalización del crecimiento; L. apiculata y M. exsucca (Myrtaceae) presentaron mayores variaciones que las restantes dos especies.Nuestros resultados indican la intervención de varios factores reguladores del crecimiento primario en las especies estudiadas, como ocurre en especies con crecimiento continuo.

The avifauna of Bosque Fray Jorge National Park and Chile's Norte Chico

The avifauna of Chile is relatively depauperate, comprising 469 extant species, of which 213 are terrestrial. However, the Coquimbo Region presents a broad ecological transition from the hyperarid Atacama Desert to the north, and the more mesic Chilean Mediterranean region of central Chile, resulting in relatively high species diversity. Approximately 130 species are found here, 8 of which are endemic to Chile although not to this region. Bosque Fray Jorge National Park is a 9959 ha Biosphere Reserve dominated by matorral habitat and hosting up to 123 bird species. Through avian surveys and banding over nearly a decade we have documented 63 terrestrial species and discerned predictable seasonal and interannual structure to avian assemblages, at least through an extended dry period. Recent studies in the matorral habitats of the park indicate seasonal patterns that fall into 4 patterns: year-round residents, winter visitors, summer breeders, and transients. Short-term banding studies demonstrate co-occurring wintering and breeding cohorts among species of Sierra-finches (Phrygilus) in the park; such assemblages and dynamics are reminiscent of North American Mediterranean avian assemblages and pose interesting ecological comparisons. In this period of surveys there appears to have been a gradual transition of the avifauna that may be a response to anthropogenic influence and/or climate change. Research on the foraging behavior of 2 insectivorous species indicate that one of these is convergent on better-known North American taxa while the other clearly is not; these efforts suggest useful avenues for further comparative research. A remarkable coevolutionary association between the Chilean Mockingbird (Mimus thenca) and endoparasitic mistletoes (Tristerix) provides insight into potential convergent ecologies in desert regions with different evolutionary histories.Less than 1% of the park comprises temperate forest remnants that subsist due to extensive water input from fog. Research in these remnants has emphasized the role of habitat fragmentation on avian assemblage composition and on reproductive ecology by forest-dependent species. The avifauna here comprises a subset of that found in intact Valdivian rainforest to the south, and forest remnant size alone explains over 90% of the variation in species numbers. One species has been particularly well studied; the Thorn-tailed Rayadito (Aphrastura spinicauda) is more abundant and has higher nestling survival in larger fragments. We summarize other work on stress responses and variation in song structure in this species. Finally, the role of birds in tree recruitment here has important implications in the face of a recent history of reduction in sizes of forest remnants; numerous birds consume the fruit of the dominant tree, olivillo (Aextoxicon punctatum), but they fail to promote successful recruitment because they defecate viable seeds in locations that provide poor survival of seedlings.Ornithological research in Chile is undergoing a modest renaissance, and while dryland avifaunas are characterized more by what is not known and has yet to be studied than by actual ecological understanding, they provide a baseline for many exciting studies ranging from natural history to the role of migration to comparative dynamics of independent lineages in North and South America.

Buffer effects of streamside native forests on water provision in watersheds dominated by exotic forest plantations

AbstractThe Valdivian rainforest ecoregion in Chile (35°–48°S) has a high conservation priority worldwide. These forests are also keys for social welfare as a result of their supply of timber as well as ecosystem services. Forests in the ecoregion have been extensively converted to fast growing Pinus radiata and Eucalyptus spp. plantations for timber production promoted by public policies and timber companies. This study describes the results of detailed measurements of hydrology and stream water chemistry in eight small watersheds in south central Chile, subjected to replacement of native temperate rainforest by exotic Eucalyptus plantations. In this system, watersheds have streamside buffers of native forest (SNFW) with varying widths. Results indicate that retention of SNFW counteracts hydrologic effects of Eucalyptus plantations, which are widely known to reduce water yields. A 1.4% rate of increase of the run‐off coefficient for each metre of increase of SNFW was observed. In addition, a decrease in the concentrations of total nitrogen, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), nitrate‐N, and different sized fractions of particulate organic matter were found in streams draining these plantations as a function of increasing SNFW. Streamside buffer widths of 17–22 m for total nitrogen and DIN concentrations and ≥36 m for sediments were required to provide comparable values to reference watersheds (100% native forest). The findings from this study suggest that SNFW may significantly reduce adverse effects from exotic species forestry plantations on water provision in an area of south central Chile where exotic forest plantations are rapidly expanding. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Activity patterns of the vulnerable guiña (Leopardus guigna) and its main prey in the Valdivian rainforest of southern Chile

The guiña (Leopardus guigna) is a small felid found primarily in temperate mixed forests of southern Andean and coastal ranges in Chile and Argentina. It is considered a vulnerable species, and is one of the least studied felids in the world. In this study our main aim was to document the relationship between the activity pattern of the guiña and that of its main prey in the Valdivian rainforest (Comau Fjord, southern Chile) using a camera-trap survey. We documented the activity patterns of small mammals and two ground-foraging bird species, as these have been previously cited as the main prey of this felid. Guiñas showed two nocturnal activity peaks, at the beginning and the end of the night, and a weak peak of activity at midday. Small mammals consistently revealed nocturnal activity, whereas both birds were strongly diurnal. Our results revealed a high overlap between the activity patterns of guiñas and small mammals, whereas this was negligible for the bird species. These findings support the idea that small mammals are guiñas’ preferred prey in the Valdivian rainforest. Our study contributes to the understanding of the temporal relationships between the guiña and its prey, and may help to design effective management strategies to conserve this vulnerable felid.

Climatic and disturbance influences on the temperate rainforests of northwestern Patagonia (40 °S) since ∼14,500 cal yr BP

We present a detailed record from Lago Pichilafquén to unravel the vegetation, climate and disturbance history of the lowlands of northwestern Patagonia (40 °S) since 14,500 cal yr BP. The presence of 30 tephras throughout the record attest for the proximity of the site to active volcanic centres and allows assessment of the role of volcanic disturbance on past vegetation and fire regime shifts. We interpret alternations in dominance between North Patagonian and Valdivian rainforests driven by changes in temperature and precipitation of westerly origin at multi-millennial and millennial timescales. These trends were punctuated by centennial-scale changes, most of which were coeval with or immediately followed the deposition of tephras and/or paleofires. We identify departures of the local vegetation from the regional trend between 2400 and 7100 cal yr BP, which we interpret as a response of rainforest vegetation and local fire regimes to the disturbance effect of tephra deposition near Lago Pichilafquén. We also find that volcanic disturbance promoted consistent increases in Eucryphia/Caldcluvia within 30 years and paleofires between 60 and 120 years following tephra deposition. Comparisons with palynological records having similar span, time resolution and age control suggest that regional climate has played a central role on the establishment, composition and maintenance of temperate rainforests. This influence is overprinted by disturbance regimes at the local and landscape level, driving divergences and heterogeneity especially at times of relatively weak climatic forcing.

Intraspecific variability inLestoros inca(Paucituberculata, Caenolestidae), with reports on dental anomalies and eruption pattern

Abstract Caenolestids are a group of poorly known South American marsupials with a restricted distribution in paramo and subparamo environments of the Andes from Colombia and western Venezuela to Bolivia (represented by the genera Caenolestes and Lestoros), and in Valdivian rain forest in southern Chile and Argentina where a single species (Rhyncholestes raphanurus) lives. The Incan shrew opossum, Lestoros inca, lives in mountains of southern Peru and extreme northwestern Bolivia. Despite being common in trapping surveys, little is known of its cranial and dental intraspecific variability, tooth eruption pattern, and dental anomalies. The objective of this work was to analyze the intraspecific variability of L. inca, which includes an anatomical description of the skull and dentition and analysis of clinal variation, tooth eruption patterns, and dental anomalies. The eruption pattern found in L. inca confirms the sequence P3 → m4 → p3 → M4 as the general pattern for living paucituberculatans. Missing teet...

Regional vegetation and climate changes during the last 13 kyr from a marine pollen record in Seno Reloncaví, southern Chile

A marine pollen record from Seno Reloncaví (southern Chile, 41°S) illustrates temperate rainforest changes during the last 13calkyrBP. Our study shows the end of the last Termination at ~11.5–12calkyrBP coincident with the expansion of Weinmannia, illustrating disturbance and warming conditions, at the expense of cold-resistant conifers (Fitzroya–Pilgerodendron and Podocarpus). Warming conditions are strengthened at 10.7calkyrBP by the increase of heliophytic taxa (Eucryphia–Caldcluvia) characteristic of the Valdivian rainforest. These heliophytic taxa reach their maximum expansion between 9.6 and 7.4calkyrBP and point to warm and dry conditions during the Holocene Climatic Optimum. After 7.4calkyrBP, vegetation changes indicate variable climate conditions superimposed on a cooling trend associated with an increase in precipitation after ~6–5calkyrBP, shown by the expansion of the cold-resistant conifers. During the late Holocene, after 2.8calkyrBP, the continuous expansion of cold-resistant conifers marks an increase of cool and wet conditions. The comparison between marine and terrestrial pollen records highlights the similar trends and timing of vegetation changes which allows to complete the regional pattern of vegetation changes around Seno Reloncaví. In comparison with the terrestrial pollen records, this marine pollen record provides a more regional signal of vegetation/climate changes and clearly demonstrates the sensitivity of marine pollen records to past vegetation and climate change.

Temperate rainforest response to climate change and disturbance agents in northwestern Patagonia (41°S) over the last 2600 years

We present detailed pollen and charcoal records from Lago Pichilafquén (~41°S) to decipher the effects of climate change and varying disturbance regimes on the composition and structure of the vegetation on the Andean foothills of northwestern Patagonia during the last 2600yr. Here, temperate rainforests have dominated the landscape since 2600calyr BP with variations ranging from cool-temperate and wet north Patagonian rainforests to relatively warm and summer-drought-resistant Valdivian rainforests. We interpret relatively warm/dry conditions between 1900–2600, 690–750 and 320–430calyr BP, alternating with cold/wet conditions between 1500–1900, 750–1100 and 430–690calyr BP. Rapid deforestation and spread of plants introduced by Europeans occurred at 320 and 140calyr BP. The record includes five tephras with ages of 2130, 1460, 1310, 1210, and 340calyr BP, all of which precede local fire events and increases in trees favored by disturbance by less than 100yr. We conclude that centennial-scale changes in the southern westerlies were the primary driver of vegetation shifts in northwestern Patagonia over the last 2600yr. Within this interval, local disturbance regimes altered the structure, composition, and dynamics of the lowland rainforest vegetation during several discrete, short-lived episodes.

Reconstrucción de la cobertura de la vegetación y uso del suelo hacia 1550 y sus cambios a 2007 en la ecorregión de los bosques valdivianos lluviosos de Chile (35º - 43º 30´ S)

SUMMARY The estimation of the forest and vegetation cover in the Valdivian Rainforest Eco-region (35o − 43o30´ S) of Chile in the PreEuropean period emerges as a relevant scientific question due to its implications for forest conservation and for the improvement of the understanding of the patterns and dynamics of human settlement. This study uses a transdisciplinary approach integrating information from historical documents, archaeological evidence and the relationship of present vegetation with environmental variables. From this analysis we developed the first reconstruction of the forest and vegetation in the Valdivian Rainforest Eco-region circa 1550 (1:500.000 scale map). Our results indicate that native forests covered 11.3 million ha ca. 1550 at the Spanish conqueror arrival, decreasing to 5.7 million ha in 2007 (50.4 % of the original area). This reduction is due to the conversion of native forests to pasturelands, shrublands and agriculture land and, since 1974, forest plantations of exotic species. This study shows the need to continue developing transdisciplinary research, which integrates historical, archaeological and biophysical (potential vegetation, pollen analysis and dendrochronology) data to improve the understanding of changing forest and vegetation cover under climatic fluctuations and human influences during the last 450 years.

Cordyceps cuncunae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales), a new pleoanamorphic species from temperate rainforest in southern Chile

Cordyceps cuncunae Palfner sp. nov. is reported from Valdivian rainforest in southern Chile, parasiting larvae of an unidentified ghost moth species (Lepidoptera, Hepialidae) which probably feed on roots of Laureliopsis philippiana. Morphology and anatomy of stromata as well as morphological and molecular characteristics of mycelium in pure culture which produces two anamorphs, one of them Lecanicillium-like, are described. The systematic position of the new taxon within the most recent generic concept is discussed. This is the first record of an endemic Cordyceps species from Chile.

Chilean medicinal plants traditionally used for wound healing therapy studied for activity against resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains

Plants traditionally used for wound healing therapy by the Huilliche people in Chile were investigated for their activity against a selection of Staphylococcus aureus strains. S. aureus is a frequently encountered pathogen in skin infections and ethnopharmacological knowledge on treatment of infected wounds may prove valuable in the search for anti-staphylococcal compounds. 30 plant samples of 24 species were collected in the Valdivian rainforest west of Osorno in Chile. Material was extracted with three different organic solvents and antibacterial activity against susceptible and resistant S. aureus was evaluated. An agar-overlay diffusion assay and a MIC-determination were utilized for comparative purposes. Total phenolics and tannins were determined and antibacterial contribution of the tannins evaluated. Extracts of 19 species were active against susceptible S. aureus at 100µg extract. At the same concentration 16 species showed activity against resistant S. aureus. Extracts without tannins rendered only six samples active. The MIC-determination showed antibacterial activity of 20 extracts on all eight strains, and the highest effect was 64µg/ml. Species Aristotelia chilensis (Mol) Stuntz, Baccharis magellanica (Lam.) Pers., Baccharis sphaerocephala Hook et Arn., Berberis buxifolia Lam. and Crinodendron hookerianum Gay being among the most active. Activity against multidrug resistant Vanthida strain was remarkable with 36 active extracts. The results support Huilliche traditional knowledge, and the hypothesis that their wound healing plants are potential sources of anti-staphylococcal agents. These results will form the basis for a selection of plant species for further investigation of new antibacterials in the fight against resistant pathogens. Acknowledgement: Robert Leo Skov, SSI, the National Reference Center in Denmark, for strains and helpful advice. Arife Onder and Betul Asar for technical support and Sara Nilean for valuable knowledge during plant collection.

Fossil leaves from the last interglacial in central-southern Chile: Inferences regarding the vegetation and paleoclimate

The continental equivalent of the most temperate part of the last interglacial (MIS 5e) is called Valdivia in southern Chile. It is characterised by extensive terraces mostly composed of detrital sediments and pyroclastic flows. Peat deposits are found within these terraces. In this paper we analyze the leaf architecture of fossil leaves collected from a peat layer at the base of the Mancera interglacial sequence, on Mancera Island, off the coast of Valdivia (near 40oS). The stratigraphic position, the presence of in situ logs and the composition of the plant species found therein suggest that the accumulation of plant remains occurred in a continental, palustrine environment. The plant morphotypes reveal an unusual mixture of species belonging to the cool temperate North Patagonian Forest and to the more thermophilous vegetation, represented by Valdivian Rain Forest. Both types of forest are currently found in the Coastal Range at different altitudes. The Mancera flora associations suggest a gradual response of the vegetation to the glacial-interglacial transition, and indicate that this coastal area could have been a refuge during the penultimate glacial period. A similar situation has been described for the last glaciation-Holocene transition.

New species of dictyostelids from Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

In late Jan and early Feb 2005 samples for isolation of dictyostelid cellular slime molds (dictyostelids) were collected in five different provinces and from six national parks (all located 39–55°S) in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Southern beech (Nothofagus) forests represented the primary vegetation type investigated, but some samples were obtained from Patagonian steppe, alpine meadows, Valdivian temperate rainforests and coniferous forests dominated by Araucaria, Austrocedrus and Fitzroya. Among the dictyostelids isolated from the samples we collected were seven species new to science. These species (Dictyostelium austroandinum, D. chordatum, D. fasciculoideum, D. gargantuum, D. leptosomopsis, D. valdivianum and Polysphondylium patagonicum) are described herein on the basis of both morphology and molecular (SSU rDNA) data. One of the new species, D. gargantuum, is one of the largest representatives of the group reported to date. Another unusual species, D. chordatum, produces long interwoven sorocarps that do not appear to respond to a spacing gas similar to the condition first noted in D. implicatum.

Diversity patterns of climbing plants and vascular epiphytes in the Valdivian rain forest of South America: a synthesis between 2000 and 2010

Diversity patterns of climbing plants and vascular epiphytes in the Valdivian rain forest of South America: a synthesis between 2000 and 2010